Chapter 318

Old Li drove the carriage straight into the gate of the He residence.

Translation: Old Li directly drove the carriage into the gate of the He residence.

But need to keep "He residence" as "the He residence"? Could be "the He manor". Use "He residence". "Old Li" is a name? Not in glossary; we can translate as "Old Li". It's a nickname but not a proper name? It's a descriptor; we can translate as "Old Li". Keep as is.

Gu Xixi, He Jinglan, and An Qinghe stood side by side in the front courtyard.

Translation: Gu Xixi, He Jinglan, and An Qinghe stood side by side in the front courtyard.

A gust of wind blew by; though it was a chilly early-spring night, it carried the austere feeling of deep autumn.

Translation: A gust of wind blew; though it was a chilly spring night, it carried a feeling of deep autumn's sternness.

An Qinghe spoke up, "Shall we go in?"

Translation: An Qinghe asked, "Shall we go in?"

Gu Xixi turned and stalked off, "I think staying at the inn is quite nice."

Translation: Gu Xixi turned and stormed off, "I think staying at the inn is fine."

Before her words had even finished, He Jinglan grabbed her from behind and forcibly pulled her back.

Translation: Before her words finished, He Jinglan grabbed her from behind and hauled her back.

He Jinglan dragged her along, pleaded with her, and swore an oath.

Translation: He Jinglan pulled and dragged her, coaxed her with kind words, and swore an oath to heaven.

"Regardless of whether the Fan family can find you, I simply can't feel at ease letting you stay at the inn."

Translation: "Regardless of whether the Fan family can find you, I just can't rest easy letting you stay at the inn."

"Aren't you the one who values your life above all? You never take risks without certainty—you fear the slightest chance. Don't you have a safer option in this capital than my home?"

Translation: "Aren't you the one who cherishes your life most? You never do anything unsure; you fear the one-in-ten-thousand chance. In this capital, do you have a safer option than my home?"

"Don't worry! I'll definitely keep you away from anyone you don't want to see! I'll also stop my brother from telling anyone!"

Translation: "Don't worry! I'll definitely keep you apart from whoever you don't want to see! I'll also stop my brother from telling anyone!"

Gu Xixi lifted her head, "Really?"

Translation: Gu Xixi lifted her head, "Really?"

He Jinglan's gaze was upright, even a bit hurt, as she said, "Look at what you're saying—when have I ever lied to you?!"

Translation: He Jinglan's gaze was upright, even a bit hurt, "Look at what you're saying—when have I ever lied to you?!"

Gu Xixi replied expressionlessly, "Just before entering your home, you pointed toward the prince's mansion and said it was far away, that the lights at the gate were barely visible."

Translation: Gu Xixi said expressionlessly, "Just before entering your home, you pointed toward the prince's mansion and said it was far away, that the lights at the gate were almost invisible."

"That's not what I'd call far—clearly the prince's mansion is huge, and your He residence isn't small either; even if they're adjacent, the courtyard wall between them looks distant from the outside."

Translation: "Is that called far? Clearly the prince's mansion is huge, and your He residence isn't small either; even if they're adjacent, the courtyard wall between them looks far from outside."

Earlier, as we came over, Gu Xixi had noticed that although we passed the carriage and went a bit further toward the regent prince's mansion, there was clearly no other gate between the two main entrances.

Translation: Earlier, when coming over, Gu Xixi had noticed that although they passed the carriage and the Regent Prince's mansion and walked a bit, there was clearly no other gate between the two main gates.

He Jinglan, caught in her lie, smiled at Gu Xixi with eyes crinkling, "Hehe, I was afraid you'd jump off the carriage; in my haste I spoke without thinking to steady you—how could that be considered deceit? Little Xixi~~"

Translation: He Jinglan, exposed, smiled at Gu Xixi with eyes crinkling, "Hehe, I was afraid you'd jump off the carriage; in my haste, to steady you with a sentence I didn't think—how could that be deceit? Little Xixi~~"

Gu Xixi glanced sideways, "Your act of cuteness won't work."

Translation: Gu Xixi glanced sideways, "Acting cute won't help."

He Jinglan said solemnly, "I'm naturally cute; I never stoop to pretending!"

Translation: He Jinglan said solemnly, "I'm naturally cute; I never stoop to pretending!"

She turned to An Qinghe, "Boss An, what do you say?"

Translation: She turned to An Qinghe, "Boss An, do you agree?"

An Qinghe nodded impartially and voiced his inner confusion: "Why have you two been shoving and jostling since you came in? It doesn't look like a lovers' quarrel—why did Xixi come and then not want to stay?"

Translation: An Qinghe nodded fairly and voiced his inner confusion, "Why have you two been pushing and shoving since entering? It doesn't look like a spat; Gu Xixi, why did you come but then not want to stay?"

He Jinglan's eyes lit up and she laughed.

Translation: He Jinglan's eyes lit up and she laughed.

She released her grip on Gu Xixi's hand and said meaningfully, "Exactly—why is that?"

Translation: She released her grip on Gu Xixi's hand and said meaningfully, "Exactly, why then?"

"I don't know what's gotten into Xixi either; there are no wolves or tigers in my inner quarters—I really can't figure out what she's afraid of."

Translation: "I don't know what's wrong with Xixi either; my inner courtyard has no wolves or tigers, I truly can't figure out what she's afraid of."

An Qinghe looked inquiringly at Gu Xixi.

Translation: An Qinghe looked at Gu Xixi inquiringly.

"I..." Gu Xixi was at a loss for words.

Translation: "I……" Gu Xixi was at a loss for words.

Was she about to say, "The regent prince, Murong Nanxiao, is the Chen Fang you know"?

Translation: Was she going to say, "The Regent Prince Mu Nan Zhao is that Chen Fang you know"?

That statement isn't exactly unspeakable.

Translation: That statement isn't impossible to say.

But the trouble is, how would she then explain it to An Qinghe?

Translation: But the trouble is how to explain it afterward to An Qinghe.

Explain why she never said that Chen Fang was the regent prince.

Translation: Explain why she never said Chen Fang was the Regent Prince.

Explain why, just because the regent prince's mansion is next door, she doesn't even dare to stay at the He residence.

Translation: Explain why, just because the Regent Prince's mansion is next door, she dares not even stay at the He residence.

Given An Qinghe's nature, he would surely say, "Just because he's here, why should we avoid him? This is Miss Jinglan's home, not his regent prince's mansion!"

Translation: Given An Qinghe's nature, he'd surely say, "Why should we avoid him just because he's here? This is Miss Jinglan's home, not his Regent Prince's mansion!"

Thinking of all this, Gu Xixi felt like her head would explode, yet her expression remained utterly calm.

Translation: Thinking of these, Gu Xixi felt her head might explode, yet her expression remained utterly calm.

A reckless, "break the pot and sink the boat" resolve welled up in her heart, and she strode forward with swift steps.

Translation: A heroic spirit of "break the pot, break the sink" surged in her heart, and she strode forward with flying steps.

"Who said I don't want to stay?"

Translation: "Who said I don't want to stay?"

"I'm just worried that if someone shows up uninvited at night, I'll disturb Master He."

Translation: "I'm just worried that if I come uninvited at night, I'll disturb Master He."

"Since Jinglan herself doesn't mind, such a fine residence—might as well stay."

Translation: "Since Jinglan herself doesn't mind, such a fine residence—might as well live there."

He Jinglan stifled a laugh and waved for An Qinghe to hurry up and follow.

Translation: He Jinglan stifled a laugh and waved for An Qinghe to hurry up.

"Hey, Xixi, it's not a right turn—you need to go left; if we head straight to my courtyard, we won't run into my brother."

Translation: "Hey, Xixi, it's not a right turn but a left; if we go straight to my courtyard, we won't run into my brother."

The Jade Bamboo Courtyard is an independent compound where He Jinglan resides.

Translation: Jade Bamboo Courtyard, an independent compound where He Jinglan resides at home.

Named for the abundant green bamboo planted there, "Yuzhu" also sounds like "yuzhu," a style of small seal script.

Translation: Named for the abundant green bamboo, Jade Bamboo also sounds like "jade chopsticks," a style of small seal script.

It perfectly suits He Jinglan's love of calligraphy.

Translation: It perfectly matches He Jinglan's love for calligraphy.

As the three had just stepped through the moon gate, they saw a slender young woman standing before the screen wall.

Translation: As the three just stepped through the moon gate, they saw a slender maiden standing before the screen wall.

The girl wore a cherry-red top, a pomegranate-colored pleated skirt, her hair in twin buns, round eyes, and delicate silkworm-brow eyebrows, looking lively and spirited.

Translation: The maiden wore a cherry-red top, a pomegranate-colored pleated skirt, her hair in double buns, round eyes, and silkworm-brow eyebrows, looking clever and lively.

When a young lady from an aristocratic family goes out, she is usually accompanied by at least three or four personal maids, and He Jinglan is no exception in her daily life.

Translation: When a noble lady goes out, she is usually accompanied by at least three to four personal maids; He Jinglan is no exception in daily life.

But today she refused to let anyone follow her; presumably the maids, having waited anxiously, had come running here.

Translation: But today she refused to let anyone follow; apparently the maids, impatient, came running here.

Seeing her master return safely, the little maid hurried forward to greet her, but for some reason she seemed over-excited, waving her hands and pointing toward the screen wall.

Translation: Seeing her master return safely, the little maid hurried over to greet her, but for some reason she seemed over-excited, waving her hands and pointing toward the screen wall.

He Jinglan wondered, "Light Pearl, you haven't seen me in just a day—surely you're not so happy you can't speak?"

Translation: He Jinglan wondered, "Guangzhu, it's only been a day since we last saw each other—surely you're not so happy you can't speak?"

While holding Gu Xixi's hand and continuing inside, she said, "Are Green Wax, Purple Smoke, and Lotus Star in the rooms? Tell them we have honored guests—hurry and make preparations."

Translation: While holding Gu Xixi's hand and walking inward, she said, "Are Lvla, Ziyan, and Lianxing inside? Tell them there are honored guests; hurry and make arrangements."

Light Pearl's expression seemed troubled; she followed He Jinglan helplessly, as if wanting to stop her but not daring to actually do so.

Translation: Guangzhu's expression seemed troubled, she followed He Jinglan helplessly, as if wanting to stop her yet daring not to actually do so.

Gu Xixi noticed Light Pearl's odd behavior and told He Jinglan, "This girl seems to have something she wants to tell you."

Translation: Gu Xixi noticed Guangzhu's oddness and told He Jinglan, "This girl seems to have something to say to you."

Back on her own turf, He Jinglan relaxed completely and laughed, "This lass! Do I still need to tell you what to do?"

Translation: Back on her own turf, He Jinglan relaxed completely and laughed, "This lass! Do I still need to tell you what to do?"

"This is Gu Xixi; I've told you many times—she's my life-and-death confidante, my bosom friend."

Translation: "This is Gu Xixi; I've told you many times—she's my life-and-death confidante, my bosom friend."

"Xixi, rest assured, you won't see Murong Nanxiao in my courtyard!"

Translation: "Xixi, rest assured, you won't see Mu Nan Zhao in my courtyard!"

As they spoke, walking past the screen wall, under the moonlight the bamboo shadows swayed in the open space at the courtyard's center; a black jade stone table stood there, with two people seated opposite each other, playing a game of chess.

Translation: As they spoke, going around the screen wall, under the moonlight the bamboo shadows swayed in the open space at the courtyard center; a black jade stone table stood there, two people seated opposite, playing a game.

He Jinglan's enthusiastic words got stuck in her throat.

Translation: He Jinglan's enthusiastic words got stuck in her throat.

An Qinghe narrowed his eyes and exclaimed, "Chen Fang! No— I heard from Stone that you've changed your surname to Murong; what are you doing here?!"

Translation: An Qinghe narrowed his eyes and exclaimed, "Chen Fang! No—wait, Shitou said you seemed to have changed your surname to Mu; how are you here?!"

Gu Xixi's face gradually turned pale.

Translation: Gu Xixi's face gradually turned pale.

Light Pearl whispered beside her, "Master, after dinner the lord and the prince will come over; they said our Jade Bamboo Courtyard table is nice, and playing chess amidst the bamboo fragrance is even better..."

Translation: Guangzhu whispered beside them, "Master, after dinner the adults and the prince will come over; they said our Jade Bamboo Courtyard table is nice, and playing chess with the bamboo scent is better……"

He Jinglan wished she had never returned at this moment, exclaiming, "Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

Translation: He Jinglan wished she hadn't come back at this moment, "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

The light pearl's voice grew even softer, "I was waiting there, I originally wanted to let the master stay silent first, but..."

But He Jinglan spoke as soon as she entered the door, and even called out Guangzhu's name.

The two people in the courtyard also heard it.

He Jinghui rose, sized up the three guests, and said with a smile, "My younger sister invited the two guests to our home last night; I, He, failed to welcome them outside the second gate, which is indeed negligent."

Gu Xixi had already recovered a bit, bowed and said, "It's nothing; we came uninvited, causing trouble; please forgive us, Sir He."

As she spoke, she restrained herself from looking at the person still sitting on the plank.

He Jinghui's gaze fixed on Gu Xixi; after a moment's thought, he seemed to understand something, and a smile of realization appeared in his eyes.

"This must be Boss Gu."

"My younger sister, while in the Northwest, received your repeated protection and care; I am deeply grateful and should have thanked you in person."

Saying this, he sincerely performed a respectful bow to Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi then introduced An Qinghe.

He Jinghui's smile was like a spring breeze, making one feel close, and he said, "I also know this brother."

"He is the youngest and most capable member of the Yunling County Seedling Merchants Association."

"My younger sister, while staying at Huachi Du Cun, also caused you trouble."

An Qinghe quickly waved his hands, saying, "It's nothing, we just look out for each other,"

"Miss He is skilled at keeping accounts and writing contracts; I admire her!"

He Jinghui startled, his gaze toward An Qinghe suddenly turning wary.